HowToFixComputers.com

WackoRay · Guest

I got 2 g-6 35o mhz with 10 gig hd, Pentium II mb can I upgrade the system?
Is it worth it? And if it is what will I need?

Thanks
Ray

Kevin Childers · Guest

It all depends on the MB chipset, particularly the BIOS.

KC

"WackoRay" <ray_wacko_foti@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Bill McBride · Guest

I upgraded my g6-400 with a Powerleap 1.4GHz processor, 40GB hard disk,
512MB RAM, a CD-RW, and Windows XP a couple of years ago and I've been very
happy with it. It's not good for playing new games but it does well enough
for Word Processing, Internet, Basic Photo Editing, and other general
tasks.

If I were starting out with the stock G6-400 today I would just buy a new
PC. It cost me about:

$80 CD-RW
$80 HDD
$120 384MB RAM
$160 CPU Upgrade
$80 Windows XP Upgrade

Total > $500. You can get a much better PC than what I have for $5-600
today. The above parts are probably cheaper today with the exception of the
memory and Windows XP so if money is tight the upgrade might be better. I
think you can get the Powerleap 1.4GHz CPU for about $100. That made the
most notable performance difference in my system.

-Bill

"WackoRay" <ray_wacko_foti@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Ben Myers · Guest

The motherboard is likely an Intel-made SE440BX, for which the top CPU is 450 or
500MHz Pentium II, almost not worth the bother. If the motherboard is an
SE440BX-2, top speed is 600MHz Pentium III operating at 2.0v with 100MHz front
side bus. The latter will improve the responsiveness of the computer. So will
a memory upgrade.

PowerLeap kits take the speed up to 1.4GHz at a significant cost, more than
$100.

Is it worth it? What do the parts cost? I would not sink more than $40 or $50
into upgrades, as the computer itself has a very low resale value. The main
thing here is that you will be able to keep the computer going and use all the
programs installed on it, as well as your own personal data... Ben Myers

On Sun, 08 May 2005 16:51:24 GMT, "WackoRay" <ray_wacko_foti@nospam.hotmail.com>
wrote:

WackoRay · Guest

GenuineIntel Pentium(r) II Processor Intel MMX(TM) Technology
PhoenixBios 4.0 Release 6.0
4M4PBOX1.15A.023.P13

Ok Thanks Kevin, Bill, Ben.

"WackoRay" <ray_wacko_foti@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Ben Myers · Guest

That's an Intel-made MP440BX motherboard. Not sure what the exact limits are.
The board was made more or less special for Gateway, but it does not differ
markedly from the generic SE440BX... Ben Myers

On Mon, 09 May 2005 20:36:05 GMT, "WackoRay" <ray_wacko_foti@nospam.hotmail.com>
wrote:

WackoRay · Guest

Thanks Ben.
So I think I'll just invest in a new sysytem then.
Ray
<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
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gdp · Guest

WackoRay wrote:

Macfanatic867 · Member Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 1

Hey I know this is after the fact but I have a very similar system to the one RayWacko has. I have a Gateway G6 350 mhz manufactured in december of 98 which I picked up for free. I would like to upgrade the processor to a 550 mhz or a 600 mhz. The motherboard is a MP440BX intel motherboard with a Bios Version 4M4PBOX1.15A.0018.P09. My question is if the bios would recognize the Pentium III 550 mhz processor model #SL3F7 or if I would need to upgrade the BIOS. I am fairly certain, other than the BIOS, it should be compatiblity because they both use a SLOT 1 socket for the processors. I think that's all, what do you all think? Any special things to consider?

Wacko · Guest

I kept debating and finally I settled on trying the 1.2 GHz Tualatin
Celeron.
Piece of cake to install.
I added the max memory, up to 384 & replaced that bucket of bolts Maxtor
10 gig hd with a western digital 250 gig hd.
I like it! Big improvement over what it was like. the difference is like
night & day.
Well worth the upgrade as far as I am concerned.

"gdp" <gdp416@cox.invalid> wrote in message
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WackoRay · Guest

Since upgrading. Things have gone down hill fast.
It runs fine for a day or two. Then I get file corruption.
The names change to hieroglyphics. I took a snap shot of the
Lavasoft folder but can't post it here for some reason.
Could someone email me so I could send the jpeg image of the folder
so you could look at it and see if you have seen this or know what the
hell is happening. But this happens to all my folders eventually. I just
got lucky and did
a scandisk and it said the files were corrupted beyond repair in Lavasoft.
I have all up to date anti virus, The Cleaner, Zone Alarm Pro, spybot,
Ad-Aware & spyblaster. Everything comes back clean.
Thanks, my email addy is ray_wacko_foti@hotmail.com
Ray

"Wacko" <wacko_ray_fotiNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Ben Myers · Guest

How is the hard drive connected to the system? An older G-6 350MHz Pentium II
system BIOS does not support a 250GB hard drive. To use the 250GB drive
reliably, you need either an add-in hard drive controller card (e.g. Promise
brand) or 3rd party drive overlay software such as Western Digital's EZ-Drive.
In short, 3rd party drive overlay software sucks and you are 1000% better off
with a drive controller card.

Yes, the 250GB drive is brand new, but what assurance do you have that it is
100% functional? Run the WD hard drive diagnostics to make sure.

Next, download and run MEMTEST-86, the best (and free) memory diagnostic
software. You have no assurance that the memory upgrade is OK unless you run
memory diagnostics. If MEMTEST-86 reveals even one error during testing, the
memory upgrade is not right for the motherboard, which needs DIMMs with
low-density memory chips... Ben Myers

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:10:34 GMT, "WackoRay" <ray_wacko_foti@hotmail.com> wrote:

WackoRay · Guest

lol, Yeah I'm finding these things one by one.
When I went to ISPECS at powerleap it scanned my system and recommenced the
processor and the harddrive.

I am waiting for the promise card to be delivered.
I ran the WD diag that came back ok. No errors.

I just finished the MEMTEST that was Ok also.

Wait for the card and hope!

Thanks ben
Ray

<ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers)> wrote in message
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Vze · Guest

Hi Ben,
I just got the promise card and installed it.
In the instructions it tells me to attach my system
case's 2or 4 pin LED to the LED connector on the
SATA card.

I looked at the spec sheet and it shows my LED
jumper to be a 2 prong just above my on/off cable.
But there is no cable. Do I need it ? I mean, I am
on that pc now and it is running?

thanks
Ray

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Hurricane Andrew · Guest

"Vze" <vze2h26h@verizon.net> wrote in message
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